Waterproof shoe



Oct. 15, 1929. A, A G| |DDEN ET AL 1,731,741v

WATERPROOF SHOE Filed Nov. 6, 1928 Patented Oct. 15, 192.9r

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED A. GLIDDEN, OF WATERTOWN, AND 'WALTER R. HIOX'LEIR, .OF WESTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO HOOD RUBBER COMPANY, OF WATERTOWN', MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS i WATERPROOF, SHOE Application filed November'v 6, 1928. Serial No. 317,559.

rllhis invention relates to an improved overshoe or shoe, embodying therein a waterproof upper.

The object of the invention is to provide a shoe or overshoe embodying therein an upper preferably Waterproof and vulcanizable, said upper being composed substantially of a single sheet of material which may represent Woolen, felted and knitted fabrics, or certain soft tanned leathers. When ground leather is used for the outer layer of the fabric forming the upper, a leather appearance is given to the upper. Pigmente may be used in the said upper to obtain fine decorative effects. When long hair is used on the outer surface of the upper, a fur effect may be obtained. Thus it will be seen that according to the material used on the outer face of the fabric, different appearing materials may be produced.

The object of the invention is, therefore,

to provide a shoe or overshoe embodying therein a Waterproof vulcanizable upper which, While presenting the appearance on the outside of a fabric or of soft leather, shall have a stockinet or other desired inner face, While intermediate the inner and outer faces there are two layers of elastic gum compound. y

While embodying these characteristics the invention embodies a shoe or overshoe, .the diEerent materials of Which the upper is composed being so associated and intermingled as to form in function and in effect a single-ply material.

Another object of the invention is to complete the upper before any` art of it is placed on the last in the manu acture of the shoe as distinguished from the prior art in overshoefmanufacture, wherein the upper was constructed of a pluralityr of pleces of vmaterial and built up piece by piece on the last. I

, The `upper ofthe shoe of thisy `invention consists of. a sheet `of material Which-has, in combination, an inner layer, preferably of fabric, an outer layer of particles of material, preferably fibrous material, such as fiock, and an intermediate layer -of elastic compound superimposed: nponthe inner layer.

of fabric, and another layer of elastic gum' compound having incorporated therein a substantial quantity of flock, ground leather fiber, Wood flour, or the' like. To this lastnamed layer, said outer layer of particles of material is attached by a layer of adhesive material having small particles of material, preferably fibrous material, therein,

The intermediate layer of elastic gum compound and the layer of adhesive mate-l rial preferably have sulphur and other structure embodied therein and, therefore,

resists the wearing action or bending to a marked degree.

- Prolonged life of the upper of the shoe ofV this invention is obtained as it is a Wellknown fact that articles made of rubber or rubber compound and articles made of rubber or rubber compound coated textile inatrial deteriorate to a greater or less degree Whenexposed to the action of certain rays of light, such as may be found in sunlight.

In the upper of the shoe of this invention the outside layer being composed of millions of small pieces, preferably of fibrous material, which are irml fixed to and which completely cover the e astic gum compound layer referred to, protect it and the other layer ofel'astic vrubbercom ound fromjthe linto any design desired. The fiberize'd surface of the overshoe upper may be printed upon by employing the well-known process of textile print work, or it may be printed obtained.

The invention consists in the improved shoe 'or overshoe set forth in the following specifeation and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: 14 igure l 1s a side elevation of an overshoe embodying our invention.

Fi 2 is a detail section of a portion of the upper as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and made upon a very much enlarged scale.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 4 is the sole and 5 is the upper of the overshoe of our invention. The sheet material of which the upper is composed, see Fig. 2, consists of a layer of sheet material such as fabric 6, a layer 7 of elastic compound such, .for example, as rubber compound, a layer 8 of elastic gum compound, a layer 9 of adhesive material such as elastic ginn cement, which isl applied to the layer 8, and alayer 10 positioned on the layer 9 and ,consisting of small particles of material which may be fibrous material such as flock, where it is desired to produce in the fabric the effect of a woolen, felted, or knitted fabric, or where it is desired to present an appearance of certain soft tanned leathers, ground leather may be used.

The layer 8 of elastic gum compound and tne layer 9 of adhesive material also preferably have incorporated therein small particles of' material, which may be fibrous material such as flock, where it is desired to produce in the fabric the effect of a woolen,'felted, or knitted fabric, or where it is desired to present an appearance of certain soft tanned leathers. Preferably, the small particles of material in the layers 8 and 9 will be the same as the particles of material incorporated in the layer 10, so that as the fabric wears in use the same appearance will be presented to the eye when the layer 10 isworn off', or partly worn off, due to the small particles of material in the y layer 9, and when the layer 9 is'worn oil", or

partly worn off, the same appearance .will be presented to the eye by the fabric on account of these small particles of material being incorporated in the layer 8.

`According to the material which is used in the layers 8, 9,.and 10 and the degree of fineness to which it is ground, different appearances may be given to the shoe upper and the color used for these different layers may be used in said layers, and where pigments are used, tlie same pigments would preferably be used in the layer of adhesive material 9 and in the layer S, so that Yas the article is worn it will still keep the same color. For the layer G different materials may be used, such as woven fabric, knitted goods, stockinet, and the like, the use of such fabric depending upon the results which it is desired to attain. The layer 7 being made of an elastic compound such as rubber compound, without any particles of fabric in it, renders the fabric as a whole waterproof.

ln manufacturing the sheet material of which the upper is composed the layer of fabric (3 may be of woven cloth or knitted fabric` or other textile fabric, and this is passed through a4 calender and the elastic compound layer 7 is applied to the fabric layer (S and is driven by pressure in between the `yarns that make up the fabric on one face of the layer (3. This is the well-known coating process regularly carried on in rubber mills. The elastic gum compound layer-8 with the line particles of material liereinbefore set forth incorporated therein is applied to the elastic compound layer 7, and the layer 9 consisting of a light coat of elastic gum cement with the fine particles hereinbefore set forth incorporated therein, is applied to the elastic gum compound layer 8, the layer 9 constituting an adhesive. The elastic gum cement of the layer 9 having the particles of fibrous material, or other fine particles licreinbefore named, or other equivalents, incorporated therein, may be applied to the layer 8 by passing the layers 6, 7 and 8 over a roll and under a sharp straight edge; then while the elastic gum cement is still sticky and before the solvent therein has evaporated, the cement coated fabric will next pass underneath a device from which the material with which the layer 9 is to be faced is delivered, that is, the fine particles of fiock etc., hereinbefore set forth. The surplus material not taken up and not firmly positioned upon the layer 9 is then removed by suction, leaving an even deposit of small pieces of material forming the layer l0, which may be flock or any fibrous material or other material according to the desired finish of the material of which the shoe upper is formed.

The machine described for the manufacture of the material of the shoe upper is to be made the subject-matter of a separate application for United States Letters Patent.

After the upper has been manufactured as hereinbefore described, the sole 4 is attached thereto in any well-known or suitable manner as by means ofadhesive material and pressure.

It will be understood that this invention relates to anoverslioe or a shoeand the sole 4 variehaccording tothe pigmentswhich are-q may .be of rubber compound or of leather,

or of any other material which is practicable for the purpose.

While the article of footwear of this invention is set forth in the claims as an overshoe, it may also include shoes, as set forth in the specification, and also slippers or the like, Without departing from the spirit of this invention, and in the specification and claims the Word overshoe is to be read with this understanding.

We claim:

l. An overshoe or the like embodying therein a Water proof upper comprising an inner layer of sheet material, a layer of elastic compound superimposed thereon, a layer of elastic gum compound containing a quantity of fibrous material applied to said layer of elastic compound, a layer of adhesive material containing small particles of brous material applied to said layer of elastic gum compound, and a layer of small particles of material superimposed upon said layer of adhesive material.

2. An overshoe or the like embodying therein a Waterproof upper comprising Waterproof sheet material embodying therein a layer of fabric, a layer of rubber compound superimposed thereon, a layer of elastic gum compound containing a riantity of fibrous material applied to sai layer of rubber compound and projecting thereinto, a layer of adhesive material containind small particles of fibrous material applied to said layer of elastic gum compound, and a layer of small particles of material attached to the layer of adhesive material.

3. An overshoe or the like embodying therein a vulcanizable Waterproof upper comprisinv an inner layer of sheet material, a layer of elastic compound superimposedv thereon, a layer of elastic gum compound containing a quantity of fibrous material applied to said layer of elastic compound, a layer of adhesive material .containing small particles of fibrous material attached to said layer of elastic gum compound, and a layer of small particles of material attached to said layer of adhesive material.

4. An overshoe or the like embodying therein a Vulcanizable Waterproof upper embodying ,therein an inner layer of sheet material, a layer of elastic compound superimposed thereon, a layer of elastic gum' compound containing a quantity of fibrous material applied to said layer of elastic compound, a layer of adhesive material containing small particles of fibrous material attached to said layer of elastic gum compound,

therein a vulcanizable Waterproof upper embodying therein an inner layer of sheet material, a layer of elastic compound superimposed thereon, a layer of elastic gum compound containing a quantity of fibrous material applied to said layer of elastic compound, a laye'r of adhesive material containing small particles of fibrous material attached to said layer of elastic gum com# pound, and a layer of small particles of material attached to said layer of adhesive material, said layers of elastic gum compound and adhesive material containing sulphur, zinc oxide and diphenylguanidine, whereby the upper is rendered vulcanizable. In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

ALFRED A. GLIDDEN. WALTER R. HICKLER.

tallic oxide, and an accelerator, whereby the A upper is rendered vulcanizable.

5. An overshoe or the like embodying 

